Hi everyone So, I'm a huge fan of plants with big leaves, and these are no exception. I'd really like one in my garden (the one with the upright leaves), but the problem is their hardiness. Does anyone in zone 8 or lower grow one of these? Here and there I've read that people had luck with leaving them in the ground over winter and they'd come back the next year even bigger.

If so, what species/cultivar do you recommend? I live in zone 8a, inland region with mild/wet winters and wet/warm summers (25-ish °C) Or so it should be :p
My garden is east facing on a hillside (though the garden itself is flattened out), and with some exceptions receives full sun most of the time. Soil is heavy clay and pH slightly acidic.

Would you be willing to protect an Alocasia ("upright leaves") every winter? If so Alocasia odora or something with it in it's parentage might work. It might not though. Quite a few Colocasia are fairly reliably hardy in cool/wet winter locations in z8a. Especially if mulched.

Here in zone 3 we grow them as house plants,
and only place them outside for the summer months.
We keep them in containers.

eclayne said:Would you be willing to protect an Alocasia ("upright leaves") every winter? If so Alocasia odora or something with it in it's parentage might work. It might not though. Quite a few Colocasia are fairly reliably hardy in cool/wet winter locations in z8a. Especially if mulched.

Willing? Don't expect it to be that much trouble; just a fair amount of mulch and plenty of drainage to begin with is what I'd expect.

Lots of both alocasia and especially colocasia will come back in zone 8, many with little or no protection...
Gotta find the right spot, and get a large enough plant established early enough to have a chance, but it's easy enough for me in zone 6 and I know of many growers in zones 7 and 8 that do way better than me!

Dry in winter, lots of water when it's warm, lots of feed or very rich soil will get big leaves.

There's just tons of info on this in this subforum!

I have had Colocasia Pink China come back for me here in zone 6, without even mulching.

Excellent. Do you have any pics?

Arico, I seen some growers cage large Alocasia in colder zones (z7) with mixed results. Wood supports surrounding the plant with wire mesh filled with shredded leaves which compact and help keep the moisture out. Most people find a way to overwinter indoors. Upright Elephant Ear (Alocasia 'Thunder Waves') , Upright Elephant Ear (Alocasia 'Portora') and Elephant's Ear (Alocasia 'Calidora') are good candidates.

Elephant's Ear (Alocasia 'Calidora') over winter in the basement and planted this Spring.